Posted: September 16th, 2017

Informational Interview/Communication Skills • Integration, Application, and Reflection

Informational Interview/Communication Skills • Integration, Application, and Reflection

Informational Interviewing—Step By Step

Step 1: Identify a Person to Interview
Preferably you will find a man or woman who is willing to reflect on their life with you. Find someone who is mature. By this I mean someone who is age 60 or older. If you want to use a family member, then that’s fine. The important thing is that you find someone who is comfortable opening up to you and sharing with you life lessons they have learned.

Step 2: Arrange the Interview
This assignment is due soon, so don’t hesitate to arrange your interview. Present the interview as a conversation and not a pressured quiz.

Step 3: Preparing for the Interview
Develop the principal questions you will be asking before the interview and also try to learn as much as you can about the interviewee before meeting with them.

Step 4: Conducting the Interview
Dress neatly, make sure you are on time, and handle yourself in a professional manner. Try to establish a good rapport with your contact and indicate an interest in her/his life. Refer to your list of prepared questions, but allow the discussion some spontaneity as well. Prior to leaving, ask your contact to suggest names of others who might be helpful to you.

Step 5: Follow Up
Within a week of the interview, you should send a thank you note to the person interviewed. The note does not have to be long, but it should be hand-written – people remember hand-written notes.

Step 6: Submitting the Transcript
Each student must submit a word-processed transcript of their interview. The transcript must have the following header with information filled in:

Student Name: Date of Interview:
Interview Subject (Name and Position): Email Address: Phone:

Question 1
Answer

Question 2
Answer

Question 3
Answer

Etc.